Draft-regulator.



D. W. GUTTING. DRAFT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FlLED JULY 5, 1913.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH cos, WASHINGTON, n. c.

D. 'W. GUTTING.

DRAFT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 1913.

1,148,164. Patented July 27,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. -37

-.i JVD COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C01, WASHINGTON, D. c.

- furthermore when light,

DANIEL w. Gurrme, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

DRAFT-REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL WILLIAM GUTTING, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Regulators, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to furnaces and the like, and more particularly to draft regulators and controlling means therefor.

Dampers and checks on furnaces at present commonly in use, especially in flat buildings are frequently subject to improper manipulation and setting by unauthorize or inexperienced persons, leading to improper action of the furnace, leakage of gas, ashes and smoke from the furnace and fines, annoyance to occupants of the building and inconvenience and trouble for the attendant.

The main objects of this invention are to' provide for automatic check and damper control in a furnace in order to prevent gas, smoke and ashes from escaping into the building when the fuel door is open; to provide means of this kind adapted for ready disconnection from the door for manual operation preparatory to shaking down the grate or removing ashes; to provide damper and check controlling means adapted and arranged for suitable operation by the opening and closing of the fuel door; to provide mechanism adapted and damper and check arranged for dependently of the fuel door or by the door alone; to provide connections between the fuel door and the draft adapted for ready connection to and release from the door; to provide draft control means of this kind adapted to operate without interference with the usual draft control means; and to provide connections of the character above tachment to ordinary furnaces commonly 1n use. 7 Furnaces as usually constructed are subject more or less to leakage, when the dampers are not properly set, particularly upon opening the fuel door, or ihe'door tothe ash pan, also in shaking down the grate, and flashy fuel, such as wood, paper or soft coal. is placed on the fire. By means of the improvements, cov-, ered by this invention and set forth herein, the draft is so controlled by automatic regucontrol at a distance either incontrolling means described adapted for at.

, of the invention; Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 27, 1915. Application filed July 5, 1913. Serial No. 777,482.

lation of the dampersthat when the fuel door is opened the main discharge draft damper closure of the usual branch air suction regulator or check, thus providing a strong discharge draft as soon as the door is opened,

and preventing any tendency of the fire box gases and dust to escape into the building.

In case it is desired to remove ashes, shake down the grate or burn papers and the like, a releasable latch on the door may be manually disconnected, whereupon the dampers are released and automatically actuated by means of controlling weights attached thereto the same as if the fuel door were opened, thus providing sufficient draft to carry all dust andgases directly up the discharge flue instead of permitting it to leak into the building An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shownin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation arranged for draft control in accordance with this invention, the outer shell or air heating box being shown in dotted vertical section at the base with the upper part broken away; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the firebox door equipped with a modified form of draft control latch; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section at A-A on Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a much enlarged rear elevation of the exhaust pipe and draft control adjusting mechanism showing the apparatus in the position assumed when the fuel door is'open; Fig. 5 is an inclined sectional view of the draft pipe and adjusting means on the lineB-B of Fig. 1, with the apparatus in same position; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the draft control latch shown on the fuel door in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an underside view of the latch shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch spring usedin Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 9 is a broken verticalsection of a draft fine on the line CC of Fig; 10, showing a modified embodiment 10 is a horizontal cross section on the line D-D of Fig. 9 Fig. 11 is front elevation, partly in section of the flue shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the check and damper vanes being omitted; Fig. 12 is a front view of a modified form of damper control latch actuated by gravity; Fig. 13 is an underside view of the latch shown in Fig. 12.

In the construction shown, a furnace '1 comprises a broad bottom or base-plate 2,

is thereby opened, together with front of the fuel' upon which is fitted an outer casing or air box 3 shown in dotted vertical section w1th the top broken away in Fig. 1, an ash box 4 immediately above and resting upon said base-plate, a fire-box 5 directly over the ashbox, and a combustion chamber 51 arranged as usual for distributing the heat. The furnace is also provided with the usual grate, notshown, and with a draft discharge pipe 6 of the usual inverted T-shape, having the customary check 7, and control means, as chain 8, leading therefrom to the floor above.

The ash box door 9 is provided as usual with an inlet draft damper or door 10, hinged at its upper edge to the door 9, and arranged for control by the customary chain 12 leading to the floor above. The fuel door 14 is of the same general style and appearance as is ordinarily used, except for certain attachments constituting a part of this invention.

In order to insure and automatically induce a strong draft through the furnace and smoke discharge flue when the fuel door is opened, a check 16, independent of the usual check 7, is pivoted in the outer or air intake arm 18 of the T-pipe6; and is arranged for s end turning to :close the check passage when the fuel'door is opened, by means of suitable connections as a control chain 20. This chain is carried by pulleys 21, and has one connected to the free end of a crank arm 22 carried by the automatic check 16, andJthe other end is secured to the furnace door. A weight carried by the arm 22 tends to hold the check 16 closed, as shown in Fig. 4, but when the fuel door is closed the chain 20 raises the arm 22 and weight 23 and opens the check 16. The point of connection of chain 20 to the arm 22 is adjustable longitudinally by means of a slot 24 in the arm and a suitable clamp 24.1.

It has been 'cust'omaryto provide an adj ustable damper in themain smoke passage above the check 7, usually controlled independently and manually. By this invention an adjustable damper 25 connected to the chain 20., by a branch chain and controlled by the fuel door 14, is provided in the flue 6 in place of the usual independent damper.

In the preferred construction the damper 25 is adjustably connected and arranged, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein a suitable vane 26 is rigidly secured flatwise upon a pivot shaft 28 journaled in perforations in the walls of the discharge pipe 6. Upon one end of shaft 28 outside of the pipe 6, and somewhat inward from the tip, is adjusta bly fixeda transverse lever 29 having oppositely extending arms 31 and 32. The outer end of arm '31 carries a weight 34 and the tip 35 of the opposite arm is turned outwardly.

At the outer extremity of the shaft 28 is pivoted a transverse arm 37 having a perforation at one end adapted to receive the end of shaft 28 as a pivot bearing. The outer end of arm 37 is provided with a weight 39 adapted to overbalance the weight 34 and to pull the arm 37 down. A longitudinal slot 41 is provided in the middle portion of the arm 37 for mounting an adjustable fastening for securing one end of the controlling chain, preferably arranged as a branch 43 from chain 20, said connection consisting of a screw 45 and a nut 46 adapted to clamp upon the arm and to slide along said slot when loosened. The arm 37 is arranged .to rest at its middle portion upon'zthe tip 3'5of the arm 32. By this arrangement the Weight on the arm 37 opposing the action of the weight 34, and being the heavier'of the two, tends to hold the arm 37 down and the arm 31 up, as in Figs. 4 and 5, but when the fuel door 14 is closed the chain 20-43 normally lifts the arm 37 up and holds it up. This permits the weight 34 to carry the arm 29 down and thus close the damper unless otherwise prevented. As the arm 37 merely rests upon the tip 35 of the arm 32, it may be movable upwardindependently of the lever 29.

An adjustable gage for limiting the degree ofclosure of damper 25 is provided on the side of the draft pipe 6 opposite the damper, and comprises a dial member 48 concentric with the shaft 28, said dial member having radially projecting arms 49 to indicate readily certain degrees for opening and closing of the damper. The dial 48 is provided with supporting studs 50, preferably integral therewith, and adapted for securing to the flue in any suitable way, as by screws 50.1, to hold the dial in place. A movable pointer or index finger 51 is arranged to coact with said dial. One end of the pointer is pivoted to the shaft 28 between the lever 29 and the arm 27, and the outer end is adapted to oscillate in a limited arc-over the dial 48. The pointer 51 is provided with a clamp adapted for ready setting by the operator, said clamp preferably consisting of a thumb screw 52 journaled freely in said pointer with its head on the front side, and coacting by threaded engagement with a clamping plate 53 mounted on the inner side of the pointer and adapted at its outer end to clamp against the inner side of the dial. The plate 53 is pivoted at its inner end in any suitable manner, a tongue 55 being provided in the construction shown adapted and arranged to project through a perforation 56 in the pointer. For ordinary practical purposes it is found that two index arms 49 on the dial are suiiicient to indicate the setting of the damper, said arms being positioned adjacent to the limits of oscillation of the pointer. The upper of these arms is marked Open and the lower Closed. The inner end of the thumb screw 52 extends inwardly within range of the arm 31 of lever 29, so that'the'downward movement of the arm 31 is limited according to the setting of the pointer 51. The point of bearing is indicated on Fig. L by a notch 59 on the arm 31. The threads on the inner end of the thumb screw 52 may be removed to provide a smooth bearing for the arm 31. The relative angular position of the vane 26 and the lever 29 is adjustable by means of a set screw 61 in the hub of the lever.

The fuel door 14: is provided with a astening for the door end of the chain 20. In the construction shown, this fastening consists of a bar or latch-like lever 63 disposed horizontally across the front of the door and having one end pivoted at 65 substantially in alinement with the door hinges 66. A suitable catch or ear 67 is provided on the front of the door for coaction with the free end of said lever to hold the same against the front of the door, so that the bar 63 will normally swing with the door. The lever is adapted for engagement with said catch and for this purpose is preferably'provided with a latch member 69 pivoted to the lever and held normally in its operative position by a spring 7 0, one form of which is illustrated in Fig. 8.

1 In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the latch 69 is attached by means ,of a pair of downwardly projecting ears 7 2 on the bar 63, and a pintlecarried thereby on which said latch is pivoted. The spring 70preferably. consists of a wire having its middle portion 73 looped around the back of the downwardly projecting arm of the latch and is provided with a plurality of loops 74: centered about the pintle and with its ends disposed against the under side of the bar 63.

The bar 63 is provided with a longitudinal slot 5 and means adapted to secure the chain 20 adjustably at any desired point along the length of said slot. The securing means consists preferably of a screw 77 having a shank to project through the slot and a head having a deep peripheral groove 78. The head is preferably hexagonal and provided with a slot to facilitate tightening. The said screw is arranged to clamp the lever against the head. Therchain 20 is secured to the said screw by engagement with the groove 78 in the head. The amplitude of the chain movement may be varied by moving the connecting screw toward or away from the hinge.

A suitable hinge bracket 80 is provide substantially in alinement with the hinges 66, and preferably is formed on the door frame for pivoting the said bar 63. A shoulder 82 is provided on the bar 68 adj acent to the bracket 80, and is so positioned as to engage the same to limit the degree of opening of the door. This shoulder may be adjusted for determining the exact maxi- In this case if desired and held in place by nut 79 mum degree of opening of the door by filing the engaging face of the shoulder to the proper extent when the parts are assembled.

In Figs. 2 and 3 a modified form of bar and latch connection is shown, wherein the bar 85 is provided with a rigid downward projecting shoulder 86 adapted for automatically engaging an outwardly projecting catch 87 on the face of the door. The bar 85 is of sufficient weight to be held in place by gravity, and is made preferably in the form of a casting.

A still further modification of door bar is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 in which the bar 89 is jointed at its middle portion, beyond the chain securing clamp, with the outer end 90 adapted for swinging up to disengage from the catch 91 on the door. the catch on the door may be substantially of the same character as that shown in Fig. 2. The handle 90 is made sufficiently heavy to insure and maintain engagement with the door catch by gravity.

Each of the above described door bars are readily detachable from engagement with the door, either by lifting the end of the bar or by releasing the latch 69, thus permitting the lever to swing back by action of the weights 20 and 23 through the operation of the chain 20. The lever may be restored by grasping the same directly with the hand if the door is closed, or if the door is opened the door bar by its simple latch action will automatically engage the door catch 67 or 87 so that when the door is closed the bar will be carried with it and the chain moved accordingly.

In Fig. 4 the check and damper members are shown spaced well apart for clearness of illustration, but it will be understood that be arranged more compactly that. the chain 20 and branch 43 may be substantially parallel.

The operation of the improved damper and automatic control mechanism above dethe parts may "scribed, is as follows: The various connections having been adjusted so that when the fuel door is closed the automatic check 16 will be open, and the automatic damper 25 closed to a greater or less degree depending upon draft conditions to be met and the setting of the index pointer 51, the draft is controlled automatically by the opening and closing of the fuel door. if a greater range of swing is desired for both the check 16 and damper 25, the connection onthe door bar is moved farther away from the hinge axis and vice versa. If agreater range of swing is desired for the check alone, the connection for the chain is moved inwardly on the ing of the movements of the check 16 and the damper only, the I i an air, a damper in damper 25 may be adjusted within certain limits by adjusting the length of the branches of the chain connection thereto. Ordinarily when the adjustment of the various connections has once been made there is seldom any occasion for changing same.

Another embodiment of the invention which is advantageous in some instances is illustrated in Figs. 9, l0, and 11 wherein the discharge flue 93 leading from the combustion chamber 5.1 is L-shaped instead of T-shaped, and has a lateral opening 94: fitted with a combined check and damper vane '95 controlled by a lever arm 96 rigidly connected thereto and held normally closed by means of a weight 97 on the outer end of said arm subject to control by the usual chain 8 connected to the arm 96 and leading to the floor above. By this invention a supplementary check 99 is adapted and arranged to open and close the opening 94 subject to operation of the fuel door. To this end the vane 99 is provided with a lever arm 100 rigidly secured thereto, and is held normally closed by means of a suitable weight 102 subject to control by a chain 103 leading tov the fuel door. The operation of this form is as follows: The fuel door being closed the supplementary eheckMremai-ns open, the main check in themeantime being subject to control by chain 8 leading to the floor above. When the fuel door is opened, or when .the bar associated with the fuel door is released, the weight 102 closes the check 99. Then when the fuel door is closed the check 99 is opened.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown it will be understood that no attempt has been made to show all forms or applications which ma be useful, and it is to be understood that numerous details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

claim:

' 1. A. furnace comprising in combination a fire box, a fuel door, a discharge fine, said flue having an'opening for the admission of said flue, a check in said opening, a bar hingedly mounted at one end substantially coaXially with said door and having latch connection therewith, and actuating means connecting co-actively from said bar to said damper and check for opening the damper and closing the check simultaneously with and by the swinging of said bar outwardly and vice versa, said bar being swingable either with and by said door or independently thereof.

2. A furnace comprising in combination a fire boX, a door frame therefor, a fuel door hinged to said frame, a bar hinged at one end to said frame with the door and bar hinge aXeslying adjacentily, said bar having latch connection with said door, means for arresting the outward swing of said bar at a definite point, draft control means connected to and actuated by said bar, said bar and door being coengageable by the swinging of said door against said bar.

3. A furnace comprising in combination a fire box, a door frame therefor, a fuel door hinged to said frame, a bar hinged at one endto said frame with the door and bar hinge axes lying'adjacently, said bar having latch connection with said door, means for arresting the outward swing of said bar at a definite point, draft control means connected to and actuated by said bar, said bar and doorbeing coengageable by the swinging of said door against said bar, said bar having fastening means movably mounted thereon for adjustment longitudinally of the bar toward and from its hinged end to vary the amplitude of movement of the draft control means.

4. A furnace comprising in combination a hinged fuel door, a draft control member, coactuating ,means connecting from said draft control member to said door at a point spaced from its hinges to impart motion from the door, and means for adjusting the spacing of the connecting point from the door hinges to provide the desired ampli tude for the draft control member.

'5. In a device of the class described, draft control means, a door frame, a fuel door hinged thereto in combination with a bar hingedly mounted atone end substantially in alinement with the door hinges, said door having a latch catch and said her being jointed horizontally at its middle portion, the outer portion being actuated by gravity to co-act with said catch, and the inner portion of said bar at a point spaced from its hinge being connected to said draft control means for actuation thereof by swinging either the door and bar together or the bar alone.

()X'In a device of the class described, a fire boX having a door which admits draft when open, and a discharge line, in combination with a damper therein having adjustable stop means and connecting means extending from said damper to said door to cause coeperation of said damper with the door through such swing of the damper as the stop means may be set for.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a draft flue, a damper therein, means normally urging said damper to its closed position, adjustable stop means for limitingthe degree of closure of said damper, a fuel door, and automatic dampercontrolling means connecting said door and said damper.

8. A furnace having a draft flue and a damper pivoted therein, in combination with yielding means tending to swing said damdamper to per toward its closed position, adjustable stop means for limiting the degree of closure of said damper, yielding means arranged to overbalance the tendency of said close, and means normally Withholding said overbalancing means and connected to the fuel door of the furnace for movement by said door in opening and closing, whereby the actuation of'the damper is responsive to the movement of said door.

9. In a furnace, the combination of a damper having a horizontal supporting spindle, a lever fixed medially of its length to said spindle, said lever having a Weight on one arm adapted to turn the damper one Way, an independent lever arm pivoted upon said spindle and arranged to'bear upon the opposite armof the first said lever, a Weight carried by said independent arm adapted to overbalance the first said Weight, and independent means normally supporting the second said Weight.

10. In a furnace, the combination of a draft flue, a damper therein, adjustable stop means adjacent to said damper comprising a stationary gage and a movable pointer adjacent to said gage and rigidly attachable thereto at various angular positions, and an arm rigidly secured transversely to the spin- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

dle of said damper and arranged to impinge upon a portion of said stop means to arrest said damper according to the setting of said pointer when said damper is turned toward its closed position.

11. In a furnace, the combination of draft control damper means, a door hinged at one edge, a bar having pivotal support means substantially in alinement, With the door hinges, said bar or independently of said door, means for releasably attaching said bar to said door for coaction therewith in connecting member attached to said draft control means and to said bar and adapted to transmit motion subject to the movement of said bar, said barbeing tachment of said connecting member at a greater or less adjusting the relative movement of said connecting member and draft control means With respect to said door and bar.

Signed at Chicago 1913.

DANIEL W. GUTTING.

Witnesses:

F. M. DAVIS, M. IRENE HU'roHiNGs,

Commissioner of Patents,

being swingable either with 7 swinging, and a formed for atdistance from its pivot for I this 8d day of July, 

